NACADA Raid Another Popular Nairobi Nightclub, Arrest Manager & 3 Others In Shisha Crackdown

The officers took action upon receiving intelligence and seized an assortment of tools and items used to facilitate the sale and distribution of shisha products.

Marvin Chege Marvin Chege
Mar 4, 2024 - 09:03 Updated: Mar 4, 2024 - 09:08
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NACADA Raid Another Popular Nairobi Nightclub, Arrest Manager & 3 Others In Shisha Crackdown
Shisha bongs seized at Oyster Bay restaurant in Nairobi during a shisha crackdown on March 3, 2024. /NACADA KENYA

Officers from the National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) on Sunday, March 3 raided another popular nightclub in Nairobi in an operation aimed at eliminating the sale of shisha products.

NACADA announced in a statement that its compliance and enforcement officers targeted the popular Oyster Bay Cafe Restaurant in Kilimani area which was found to be trading in shisha.

The officers took action upon receiving intelligence and seized an assortment of tools and items used to facilitate the sale and distribution of shisha products.

They included 46 shisha bongs, assorted flavours, charcoal pipes as well as a counter book for stock-keeping of the illegal product.

An officer carrying shisha bongs seized from Oyster Bay restaurant on March 3, 2024. /NACADA KENYA

"Last night at around 10.30 pm our Compliance and Enforcement officers acting on information raided Oyster Bay Cafe Restaurant, a popular establishment within the Kilimani area, where 46 Shisha Bongs, assorted paraphernalia that includes assorted flavours, charcoal pipes, a counter book used in shisha stock-taking were netted," stated NACADA in part.

Four people were arrested during the operation, and among them included the manager, sellers and a storekeeper.

"All the suspects will be arraigned in court after the investigations are complete," added NACADA. The suspects are likely to face charges related to their involvement in the illegal shisha trade.

Shisha smoking, also known as water pipe, hookah, or hubble-bubble, was outlawed in Kenya in 2017.

The comprehensive ban covered the use, import, manufacture, sale, promotion, and distribution of the product. Offenders face fines starting at Ksh50,000 or a minimum jail term of six months.

"Any person who contravenes any provision of these regulations may, where a penalty is not expressly provided for in any provision of the Act, be liable to the penalty provided for in section 163 of the Act," the government said at the time.

On Saturday, March 2, the team raided two nightclubs in Nairobi's Eastlands area, among them Quiver Eastlands, part of the popular nightclub branches located in Nairobi, Kajiado and Murang'a Counties.

There, the officers seized 18 shisha bongs and assorted flavours as well as shisha preparation paraphernalia and arrested two people for selling shisha unlawfully.

The Authority further confirmed that it extended the crackdown to Habanos Lounge, where 60 shisha bongs were seized and 126 pieces of assorted flavours, and assorted paraphernalia used in shisha preparation were confiscated.

"Seven people were arrested, including the manager, sellers, and users. All those arrested were detained at the Jogoo Road Police Station and will be having their day in court to be charged with various offences related to sections 3 and 4 of shisha rules," stated the authority.

The Superintendent of Police and Head of Enforcement at NACADA, Nicholas Koskei, cautioned the public over the consumption of hard drugs under the guise of smoking shisha.

NACADA CEO, Anthony Omerikwa speaking on November 29, 2023. /NACADA KENYA

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